ASPEN, Colo., December 20, 2019---Flexjet led Royal Salute from start-to-finish to win the High Alpine Cup Thursday at Rio Grande Park.

Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, 1, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8, Juan Bollini, 6), leading 6-1 at the half, held on for a 9-7 victory over Royal Salute (Pierre Henri Ngoumou, 6, Malcolm Borwick, 6, Horacio Heguy, 6).

Richard Mille won the Celebrity Chukker knocking off St. Regis. In front of a VIP crowd including Australian actress Rebel Wilson, Richard Mille (Sterling Jones, Gary Magness, Pablo MacDonough) defeated St. Regis (Nacho Figueras, Hilario Figueras, Saye Yabandeh, 4-3. For the third year in a row, Jones was leading scorer with two goals. The remaining five players each had one goal.

After competing in qualifying round robins Wednesday at Aspen Valley Polo Club's world-class indoor arena, it was the first day teams got the chance to compete on snow.

Flexjet, a 15-goal rated team, started off with a 3-0 advantage on handicap over 18-goal Royal Salute.

Ganzi's three goals in the first two chukkers enabled Flexjet to take a 6-1 lead. Royal Salute was unable to score until the 3:30 mark in the second chukker when Ngoumou's long pass found Borwick open for an easy tap-in.

Royal Salute started digging itself out of the hole in the third chukker scoring three goals in the final four minutes. Ngoumou scored two goals and Borwick added one.

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ASPEN, Colo., December 19, 2019---The snow-covered stage is set for what is expected to be one of the most competitive finals in St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship history.

Defending champion Richard Mille will meet two-time champion U.S. Polo Assn. Friday at 1 p.m. (MST) at Rio Grande Park. In the second game of the doubleheader, St. Regis will play Aspen Valley Polo Club in the Aspen Cup subsidiary game at 3 p.m. (MST). 

U.S. Polo Assn. (Grant Ganzi, 3, Juancito Bollini, 4, Nic Roldan, 8) won Bracket A with impressive round robin victories over Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, 1, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8, Juan Bollini, 6), 8-4, and St. Regis (Julien Reynes, 4, Jason Crowder, 7, Nacho Figueras, 6), 9-3. 

Richard Mille (Edouard Pan, 4, Louis Jarrige, 3, Pablo MacDonough, 10) won Bracket B with thrilling wins over Royal Salute (Pierre Henri Ngoumou, 6, Malcolm Borwick, 6, Horacio Heguy, 6), 8.5-2 and Aspen Valley Polo Club (Sarah Siegel Magness, 0, Jesse Bray, 7, Patrick Uretz, 8), 8.5-7.

"They are all really good teams, the bottom line is they were tough teams," said Grant Ganzi. "We were just focused on winning today and not thinking ahead. Looking at the rosters I knew Pablo would be tough and the two French players made it a really tough team.

"I'm looking forward to the game," Ganzi said. "It's going to be a good final, fun to watch and really fast. I want to win it more than ever with my family, friends and girlfriend here. It's her first snow polo tournament."

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ASPEN, Colo., December 18, 2019---In a fun, festive atmosphere at St. Regis Aspen Resort Tuesday night, pairings for Wednesday's opening round of the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship were determined.

Six teams including defending champion Richard Mille were introduced during the cocktail party for players, sponsors, family, friends and media.

The draw determined two brackets for Wednesday's round robin qualifying games at Aspen Valley Polo Club's indoor arena in Carbondale. Players also received their team jerseys and posed for photos.

St. Regis, Flexjet and U.S. Polo Assn. are in Bracket A and Richard Mille, new sponsor Royal Salute and Aspen Valley Polo Club are in Bracket B.

At 11:30 a.m. (MST), Flexjet plays St. Regis in the opening two chukkers of the first round robin. The winner sits and loser plays U.S. Polo Assn. In the second round robin at 1 p.m. (MST), Richard Mille plays Royal Salute. The winner sits and loser plays Aspen Valley Polo Club. The round robin winners advance into the championship on Friday at 1 p.m. (MST).

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ASPEN, Colo., December 16, 2019--The much-anticipated St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship gets under way Tuesday at St. Regis Aspen Resort with the draw party featuring player and sponsor introductions.

The six team sponsors: Richard Mille, Flexjet, St. Regis, U.S. Polo Assn., Aspen Valley Polo Club and Royal Salute and players will be introduced during a cocktail party at 8 p.m. MST in a fun and festive atmosphere at St. Regis.

The draw and entire tournament will be live streamed by ChukkerTV.

In a holiday setting against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains, the three-day tournament is a major attraction for the local community and fans from around the world. One of the social events of the season is a major allure for the Aspen community and surrounding areas.

One of Aspen's biggest international sporting events has attracted some of the world's top players including Argentine 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough coming off a record seventh consecutive Argentine Open victory with La Dolfina teammates Adolfo Cambiaso, Pelon Stirling, Juan Martin Nero and Rodrigo Andrade.

MacDonough heads a star-studded lineup for three days of exciting polo action at Aspen Valley Polo Club and Rio Grande Park. MacDonough will make his second consecutive appearance with the Richard Mille Polo Team, winners of last year's tournament title. 

Mille is the official timekeeper for the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship. Mille created the RM 53-01 Tourbillon Pablo MacDonough for his Brand Ambassador.

Nero, who was scheduled to compete in this year's tournament, will be replaced by 7-goaler Jason Crowder. Nero broke his ankle when his horse slipped in the final of the Argentine Open and was replaced by Andrade in the seventh chukker.

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ASPEN, Colo., December 10, 2019--A star-studded lineup in polo from throughout the world will compete in the much-anticipated Dec. 18-20 St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship at Aspen Valley Polo Club and Rio Grande Park.

A Who's Who in polo is headed by Argentine 10-goalers Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero. The duo are currently in Argentina set to play for La Dolfina in the 126th Argentine Open final against Ellerstina on Dec. 14. With teammates Pelon Stirling and Adolfo Cambiaso, the quartet has won seven times in the last eight years, losing only to Ellerstina in 2012.

MacDonough will compete for the second consecutive year in Aspen for the defending champion Richard Mille Polo Team. Last year he won his St. Regis debut with Marc Ganzi and Martin Pepa with a 6-5 victory over Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini). MacDonough was named Most Valuable Player.

Also in the Who's Who lineup of players are 8-goalers Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Nic Roldan, living legend Horacio Heguy and Nacho Figueras, both 6-goalers.

Richard Mille is the official timekeeper for the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship. Mille created the RM 53-01 Tourbillon Pablo MacDonough for his Brand Ambassador.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., December 5, 2019---After three days of snow polo action at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship, fans will get a chance to party with the players for a good cause.

Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation, the designated philanthropic charity for the snow polo event, will host the "White Hot Party With The Players," on Friday, Dec. 20th, 6-9 p.m. at the new W Aspen Hotel.

Fans will get the opportunity to meet some of the world's best polo players and enjoy music mixed especially for the W Aspen Hotel.

General admission tickets are $200. VIP tickets are $1,000 and include perks such as Beverly Hills Caviar, bottomless champagne and other exclusive benefits.

Also for sale are tickets to join British 6-goal player Malcolm Borwick for a one-hour polo lesson on polo horses on Dec. 20th at 9 a.m. at Rio Grande Park. The experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and limited to 10 people at $750 per ticket. To purchase tickets or browse the online auction items, go to bidpal.net/snowpolo.

Borwick is the Royal Salute World Polo Ambassador. Recently, Pernod Ricard announced a "standout new addition" Royal Salute Snow Polo Edition, available for a limited time throughout December.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., December 3, 2019---The countdown begins for the much-anticipated St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship, one of the world's top snow polo tournaments and only snow polo event in the U.S.

In front of an expected sellout crowd and worldwide ChukkerTV audience, action begins Wednesday, Dec. 18, with qualifying games at Aspen Valley Polo Club and continues Thursday and Friday at Rio Grande Park.

An evening of fun is set for Tuesday, Dec. 17, with the always entertaining draw and team introduction during a cocktail reception at St. Regis Aspen Resort where team pairings and sponsors will be announced.

For the seventh consecutive year, Aspen Valley Polo Club owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi, will host the star-studded event along with polo ambassador and St. Regis Connoisseur Nacho Figueras and his wife Delfina.

The event has joined St. Moritz as one of the world's top snow polo tournaments and one of Aspen's major international sporting events. It is the only snow polo event in North America, final stop on the World Polo Tour and kickoff to the holiday social season in Aspen.

The snow polo tournament is a major attraction for the local community, attracts fans from all over the world, and is a major allure for the Aspen community and surrounding areas.

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., November 1, 2018---Aspen Valley Polo Club will go after a unprecedented fifth consecutive title Saturday at the ninth annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championship at WestWorld of Scottsdale.

The team of Melissa Ganzi, Nacho Figueras and Grant Ganzi will face Royal Berkshire County Polo Club (Charlie Wooldridge, Roy Prisk, Jamie Morrison), making its debut, in the featured match at 2:15 p.m.

Aspen Valley Polo Club is sponsored by Bentley Scottsdale and Berkshire Polo Club is sponsored by Barrett-Jackson.

The biggest polo event in the United States presented by Talking Stick Resort, is one of the most extravagant outdoor sports spectacles in not only Arizona but the United States and has helped increase polo's exposure and popularity.

Last year's event attracted a soldout record crowd of more than 13,000.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., September 9, 2019---It may have taken two chukkers, but the World Polo League Triple Crown of Polo season-finale lived up to expectations Sunday at McClure River Ranch.

Audi (Marc Ganzi, Mariano Gracida, Nic Roldan, Juancito Bollini) led Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Salvador Ulloa, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) from start-to-finish but Flexjet made them work for it in the final chukker.

On a perfect day for polo, Audi held on for a thrilling 12-11 victory to win the coveted trophy and its second consecutive tournament of the summer polo season. Audi also won the Labor Day Challenge with Lauren Sherry, Salvador Ulloa, Roldan and Ganzi.

Roldan, the highest rated American player at eight goals, had one of his best games of his career with his big scoring hits and relentless defense and was the unanimous choice for Most Valuable Player.

The Aspen Valley Polo Club Best Playing Pony went to Tampa Glitter played by Mariano Gracida.

The American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony was Pitkin, played by Alejandro Novillo Astrada.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., September 7, 2019---The stage is set for what is expected to be the most competitive season finale in Aspen Valley Polo Club history.

In front of a ChukkerTV worldwide audience, Audi (Marc Ganzi, Mariano Gracida, Nic Roldan, Juancito Bollini) will face Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Salvador Ulloa, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) in the championship final of the World Polo League Triple Crown of Polo at 11 a.m. MST (1 p.m. EST) at McClure River Ranch.

"I can't wait," said World Polo League Commissioner Dale Smicklas. "This isn't the first time Marc and Melissa Ganzi have been on the field in the finals of a tournament. It will be husband against wife but I know for a fact they will both be doing everything they can to win. They both have really nice teams. This should be a really, really, really good game."

Following the final, the Just For The Fun Of It round robin will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the final 2019 summer action of the most successful and historic seasons Aspen Valley Polo Club has had.

Audi advanced on Saturday with an impressive 12-7 victory over Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Alfredo Bigatti, Stewart Armstrong, Sebastian Merlos).

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CARBONDALE, Colo., September 5, 2019---Aspen Valley Polo Club saved one of its best tournaments for the last weekend of the summer polo season.

The World Polo League's Triple Crown of Polo will feature five teams battling it out for the prestigious trophy. It is the second season the club is hosting the tournament.

The three-day 20-goal tournament begins Friday at 11 a.m. MST at Sopris Mountain Ranch with a three-team round robin semifinal.

Seventeen-goal Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Kris Kampsen, Lucas Lalor, Pablo Spinacci) plays 20-goal Los Amigos Red (Paul Foster, Carlitos Gracida, Tincho Merlos, Nacho Novillo Astrada). The winner sits and 20-goal Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Salvador Ulloa, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) will play the final six chukkers.

The second semifinal is Saturday at 10:30 a.m. with 19-goal Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Alfredo Bigatti, Sebastian Merlos, Stewart Armstrong) playing 18-goal Audi (TBA, Juancito Bolini, Mariano Gracida, Nic Roldan) at McClure River Ranch.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., September 3, 2019---On another historic day at Aspen Valley Polo Club, McClure River Ranch Pink stunned McClure River Ranch Cream to capture the inaugural Battle of the Sexes Monday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

In a fun atmosphere, on and off the field, McClure River Ranch Pink (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Juan Bollini, Lauren Sherry) stole the show and defeated favorite McClure River Ranch Cream (Paul Foster, Brian Boyd, Marc Ganzi, Stewart Armstrong), 8-6.

McClure River Ranch Pink rallied after trailing 4-3 at the half with a 3-0 third chukker and ended up outscoring McClure River Ranch Cream, 5-2, in the second half.

Melissa Ganzi and Lauren Sherry shared scoring honors for McClure River Ranch Pink each with three goals. Alejandra Foster added two goals.

Stewart Armstrong scored a team-high three goals for McClure River Ranch Cream. Marc Ganzi had two goals and Paul Foster added one.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., September 2, 2019---Audi won its first tournament of the summer polo season Sunday in front of a packed house at McClure River Ranch.

Audi (Lauren Sherry, Salvador Ulloa, Nic Roldan, Marc Ganzi) took control early and led from start-to-finish to defeat La Karina (Carlitos Gracida, Brian Boyd, Lucas Lalor, Sebastian Merlos), 10-6, to capture the inaugural Labor Day Challenge.

Argentine 7-goaler Salvadore Ulloa, known throughout the season as "Mr. Hustle," was named Game and Season Most Valuable Player. Maestra was selected Best Playing Pony.

Audi jumped out to a 2-0 lead and pulled away for a 4-1 lead after two chukkers. Playing well defensively, Audi never let La Karina into the game which had problems finding consistency in its offense. Audi led 6-3 at the half and outscored La Karina, 4-3, in the second half.

Roldan led Audi with a game-high four goals. Ulloa and Ganzi each had three goals. Gracida led La Karina with three goals. Merlos had two goals and Boyd added one goal.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 31, 2019---La Karina will be looking for its third tournament win of the season and Audi its first in the inaugural Labor Day Challenge Sunday at 10 a.m. at McClure River Ranch.

La Karina and Audi won hardfought semifinals Friday at Sopris Mountain Ranch and McClure River Ranch.

In the opening semifinal round Friday at Sopris Mountain Ranch, La Karina (Santos Merlos, Carlitos Gracida, Lucas Lalor, Sebastian Merlos) dominated its opening game against McClure River Ranch (Pablo Spinacci, Jared Zenni, Juancito Bollini, Stewart Armstrong) for a 7-2 victory.

Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Hilario Ulloa, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) defeated McClure River Ranch, 3-0.

In the final three chukkers, La Karina defeated Flexjet 6-4, to advance into the championship.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 29, 2019---Aspen Valley Polo Club has added another week to its summer polo schedule with the inaugural Labor Day Challenge and Battle of the Sexes Plus One.

Six teams will compete in the Labor Day Challenge which gets under way on Friday with two semifinals.

In the opening semifinal at 10:30 a.m. at Sopris Mountain Ranch, McClure River Ranch and La Karina will play first. The winner sits and Flexjet plays the last six chukkers.

In the second semifinal at 2:30 p.m. at McClure River Ranch Field Two. Audi and Los Amigos will play first. The winner sits and Mountain Chevrolet plays the last six chukkers.

The winners advance into Sunday's championship final of the Labor Day Challenge Cup at 11 a.m. followed by the two subsidiary finals, the Just For The Love Of It Cup at 12:30 p.m. and Just For The Thrill Of It Cup at 2 p.m.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 26, 2019---Los Amigos Red won its third tournament of the summer polo season and is now the winningest team with two grass tournaments remaining.

Los Amigos Red (Paul Foster, Juancito Bollini, Juan Bollini, Nacho Novillo Astrada) led from start-to-finish to defeat La Karina (Carlitos Gracida, Gussie Busch, Brian Boyd, Sebastian Merlos), 8-4, to capture the Carbondale Classic Sunday in front of a good crowd at McClure River Ranch.

For the second week in a row, Juancito Bollini, 23, was named Most Valuable Player. He was also MVP for Los Amigos Blue, winners of the Rocky Mountain Handicap title.

Matsu, a 6-year-old bay mare played by Nacho Novillo Astrada in the fifth chukker and owned by Wellington, Fla.-based Santa Rita Polo Farm, was Best Playing Pony.

Juancito Bollini scored a game-high four goals. Astrada had three goals and Foster added one goal. For La Karina, Gracida and Merlos each had two goals.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 24, 2019---La Karina and Los Amigos Red won their semifinal games to advance into Sunday's championship final of the Carbondale Classic at McClure River Ranch.

In Friday's opener at Sopris Mountain Ranch, La Karina (Santos Merlos, Gussie Busch, Sebastian Merlos, Carlitos Gracida) jumped on Mountain Chevrolet (Lauren Sherry, Michael Payne, Kris Kampsen, Alfredo Bigatti) early and went on to win, 9-3.

In the second semifinal at McClure River Ranch, Los Amigos Red (Juancito Bollini, Pablo Spinacci, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster) won a nailbiter when Nacho Novillo Astrada scored in the final seconds for a 13-12 victory over McClure River Ranch (Alejandra Foster, Lucas Lalor, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Stewart Armstrong).

The winners will play Sunday at 11 a.m. MST at McClure River Ranch followed by the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup at 12:30 p.m.

On Saturday at 10 a.m. MST at McClure River Ranch, Audi and Flexjet will resume the 20-goal Just For The Love Of It Cup. The teams tied 8-8 in their opener on Thursday with Grant Ganzi scoring in the final minute to tie the game. Melissa Ganzi led Flexjet with a game-high four goals. Marc Ganzi led Audi with a team-high three goals. The score will carry over into Saturday's final.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 21, 2019---Aspen Valley Polo Club, the nation's most active polo club, will host seven games over four days this week at Sopris Mountain Ranch and McClure River Ranch.

The fun four days of polo begins Thursday with the 20-goal Just For The Love Of It Cup at McClure River Ranch at 2:30 p.m.

Audi (Marc Ganzi, Pablo Spinacci, Nic Roldan, Jared Zenni) plays Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Tincho Merlos, Grant Ganzi, Hilario Ulloa). The final is Saturday at 11 a.m. at McClure River Ranch.

On Friday, the semifinals of the Carbondale Classic will be held at Sopris Mountain Ranch at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

In the opening semifinal, Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Lauren Sherry, Kris Kampsen, Alfredo Bigatti) plays La Karina (Brian Boyd, Gussie Busch, Carlitos Gracida, Sebastian Merlos).

In the second semifinal, Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Juancito Bollini, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) plays McClure River Ranch (Alejandra Foster, Lucas Lalor, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Stewart Armstrong).

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 21, 2019---For the second year in a row, the Chukkers, Champagne & Caviar fundraiser at Aspen Valley Polo Club topped the previous year's total for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation.

The club's summer marquis event, hosted by owners Marc and Melissa Ganzi and Aspen Valley Hospital, raised $600,000, more than last year's total of $537,200 and 2017 total of $366,000.

The day-long event at McClure River Ranch, held during the August 11 USPA Silver Cup, Mount Sopris Cup and Just For The Love Of It Cup, was a winning combination of a club record 18 chukkers of polo, sponsors, donors and silent online auction raising much-needed funding for four main hospital projects.

The soldout crowd of 400, including 350 in the fieldside VIP tent enjoyed a lavish menu prepared with white-glove service and impeccable attention to detail by Caribou Catering.

The highlight of the day was the live polo player auction. Guest auctioneer John Sarpa of the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation Board served as emcee and auctioneer.

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